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Repeated cycles of immersion and emersion amplify the crawling rhythm of the intertidal gastropod Hydrobia ulvae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2011

Sónia Vieira ,
Helena Coelho ,
Rita Nolasco ,
João Serôdio ,
Richard S.K. Barnes  and
Henrique Queiroga
Sónia Vieira
Affiliation:
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Helena Coelho
Affiliation:
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Rita Nolasco
Affiliation:
CESAM & Departamento de Física, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
João Serôdio
Affiliation:
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Richard S.K. Barnes
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
Henrique Queiroga*
Affiliation:
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: H. Queiroga, CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal email: henrique.queiroga@ua.pt
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Abstract

Hydrobia ulvae displays an endogenous rhythm of crawling behaviour of circatidal periodicity, with higher levels of activity during high water. In the present study we address the effect of repeated cycles of immersion and emersion at tidal periodicity on the level and synchronism of the behaviour, by contrasting these with the effects of continuous immersion and continuous emersion. Snails were recorded in dark conditions under the different immersion regimes for 3 days. The results show that continuously emersed snails displayed very low levels of activity. Average activity levels of continuously immersed snails and of those subjected to tidal cycles of immersion and emersion were similar, had identical periods related to the period of the tidal cycle, and had similar phase relationships to the expected tidal cycle. However, form-estimates for these two categories of snails differed, the snails subjected to cyclic conditions showing a larger amplitude and greater synchronism of activity. Therefore, it is concluded that recurrent cycles of immersion and emersion should contribute to well defined cycles of activity in the intertidal environment, with greater activity levels during high water.

Keywords

gastropodscrawling rhythmsynchronismbehaviourtidesestuariesRia de Aveiro
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 92 , Issue 3 , May 2012 , pp. 565 - 570
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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